Performance Psychology

Donate some time to charity – and get helpers halo

September 9, 2010

Listening to Dr David Lewis on the radio this morning he was making the point that people who do good for others secrete a chemical in their brains that makes them feel good and build up resistance to falling ill. In a study at the Harvard Business School 400 women were sent out to do good. They seemed to build up a resistance to viruses and bugs and were more stress resistance than a similar group. It’s called helpers halo. Giving of yourself rather than your time. Self esteem was higher in the helpers group which was a major contributor to their health. What can you do for a local charity? I will check this locally with a charity I do some coaching with and also when I speak at the next Charity Conference. It would be interesting to learn of other’s experiences with helpers halo.

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